What Is the World Day of Migrants and Refugees?

“Migrants” and “refugees” are two terms that are often thrown around by people interchangeably, but they refer to two completely different groups of people. There is not an internationally accepted legal definition of migrants, but they are generally described as people who have moved from one place to another, often to find work or better living conditions. 

Refugees, on the other hand, are individuals who have fled to another country in search of asylum because of direct threats of persecution or death. Both migrants and refugees face many challenges and threats on their journey toward a better life.

Each June 20th is designated as World Refugee Day—a celebration of the strength and courage of refugees. However, there is also a World Day of Migrants and Refugees (WDMR). In this article, we’ll explain what the World Day of Migrants and Refugees is and everything else you need to know about it.

When Is the World Day of Migrants and Refugees?

The World Day of Migrants and Refugees is celebrated every year on the last Sunday of September and has been celebrated by the Catholic church since 1914. In 2022, the 108th World Day of Migrants and Refugees is on September 25th, and the theme Pope Francis has chosen for the occasion is “Building the Future with Migrants and Refugees.”

Why Is the World Day of Migrants and Refugees Important?

Similar to World Refugee Day, the World Day of Migrants and Refugees serves as an occasion for people around the world to show their concern and support for individuals who are forced to leave their homes in order to survive or search for a better life. In 2021 alone, there were nearly 90 million people who were forced to flee their homes.

The World Day of Migrants and Refugees serves as a reminder and opportunity to pray for these brave individuals. It also raises awareness about the struggles migrants and refugees face and the opportunities that migration offers.

The International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC) advocates for the rights of all uprooted people, including refugees, internally displaced persons, and migrants. Our efforts include protecting internally displaced children in Burkina Faso, providing assistance to Afghan refugees with our partner agencies, taking part in activism against gender-based violence towards Syrian refugees in Jordan, aiding Ukrainian refugees, and more.

We rely on donations to fund our critical humanitarian work and continue changing lives. Find out how you can make a difference and help migrants, internally displaced persons, and refugees in need today!

About the International Catholic Migration Commission

The International Catholic Migration Commission is a nonprofit organization that protects, serves, and advocates for displaced people throughout the world. We help refugees, asylum-seekers, victims of human trafficking, and migrants of all faiths, races, and ethnicities forge lives in safety and dignity.

With support from people like you, ICMC delivers humanitarian aid and social development, protects vulnerable migrants, contributes to refugee resettlement efforts, advocates before governments, and partners with civic leaders. We seek a sustainable solution to dangerous migration and refugee crises.

Find out more by visiting our website.